Jazz for aficionados
Killer little known record. Red Garland, the great Phil Woods and to try and keep up with Alex a little known, but great trumpet player Ray Copeland; rest of the rhythm section not too shabby 😎 (great!): https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=JIRWpxSoYDw https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=uS4dFEzn5MU |
orpheus, I haven’t read much of a Hawes, I must correct that... *.* Bonga - Mona Ki Ngi Xica with pretty photo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQe6hTKX35o with lyrics https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vvr6F6kwyEo p.s. awesome music you all are posting... |
pryso, your observations are correct and good for you for digging deeper. Yes, he plays both ways and his style is a heavier dominance of block chording. Importantly, it was the way he did it with a distinctive voicing (arrangement of notes) that he used in those block chords that gave him a distinctive sound. I disagree that this was no different than other pianists’ use of the two techniques. Yes, some players will use chords in their solos, but not with the exact same and unique voicing for each chord nor to that degree which is what gave him that unique sound. My point in comparing Evans to was that I wondered if this influenced Evans’ playing on that record. Evans plays almost exclusively in a block chord style on “Jazz Track”; rather unusual for him up until then. I could not have explained it better: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Garland **** Playing style Garland’s trademark block chord technique, a commonly borrowed maneuver in jazz piano today, was unique and differed from the methods of earlier block chord pioneers such as George Shearing and Milt Buckner. Garland’s block chords were constructed of three notes in the right hand and four in the left hand, with the right hand one octave above the left. Garland’s left hand played four-note chords that simultaneously beat out the same exact rhythm as the right-hand melody played. But unlike George Shearing’s block chord method, Garland’s left-hand chords did not change positions or inversions until the next chord change occurred. It is also worth noting that Garland’s four-note left-hand chord voicings frequently left out the roots of the chords, a chord style later associated with pianist Bill Evans. **** http://www.riccardoscivales.com/billy-boy-red-garlands-block-chords-style/ https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=J3UnzDeZ8lI Btw, I don’t set out to educate, but to comment based on what is important to me when listening to music. If asked, as you did, I will gladly try and explain. I hope the above links helped clarify. |
Again frog, thanks for your explanations. I didn't intend to suggest that Garland's specific style was like many other pianists, simply observing that many now use some combination of block cording and single note lines. And I have the "Milestones" album so have heard that "Billy Boy" many times. My basic point here is that after listening to jazz in general for several decades, and having heard many of the linked numbers posted here multiple times, because of my lack in musical knowledge, I'm even now learning some insights on structure and presentation. That provides an avenue to listen anew. Much of the musically technical information you posted quickly went over my head. But grasping just the basics of it should expand my listening. |
